US warns EB-1 green cards for Indians may shut down within weeks

According to reports from Zee News, the United States Department of State has indicated that EB-1 green cards for Indian applicants may face significant availability constraints in the coming weeks. The EB-1 category, reserved for priority workers including individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational managers or executives, is currently experiencing a surge in demand that threatens to exhaust the remaining annual quota.

Visa retrogression and unavailability are common features of the US employment-based immigration system, particularly for countries with high volumes of applicants like India. When the number of qualified applicants exceeds the statutory limit for a specific category and country, the State Department must pause processing or move the 'final action date' forward, effectively creating a backlog. This process is managed through the monthly Visa Bulletin, which serves as the primary indicator for applicants regarding their eligibility to proceed with the final stages of permanent residency.

For many Indian professionals, the EB-1 category has historically offered a faster pathway to a green card compared to the EB-2 or EB-3 categories, which are subject to much longer wait times. If the category becomes unavailable, it would mean that no further green cards can be issued to Indian nationals in this class until the new fiscal year begins or additional visa numbers become available. Applicants are advised to monitor the official Department of State Visa Bulletin for the most current updates on priority dates and category status.